Samuel Leroy Petsch

Samuel Leroy Petsch, passed away peacefully at home in Exeter Township on October 29, 2023.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Marjorie Irene (Moyer) Petsch and their only child, Steven Troy Petsch and his wife Dejah Thoris (Follweiler) Petsch of Ashford, CT. 

     Known as Sam to his many friends, he was born on September 10, 1936 in Alsace Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Sam was the youngest child of Henry Daniel Petsch and Ruby Marie Petsch, and was predeceased by sisters Pearl (Hertzog) and Edna (Romberger) and brothers Herman, Robert and a brother who died in infancy.

     He was a 1955 graduate of Mt. Penn High School, after which he worked for Diefenderfer Construction and then the Polymer Corporation of Reading, from which he retired in 2000. With his wife Margie, Sam was active across a wide range of pastimes and friends throughout their life together.  As a young man, Sam was active in his POSofA lodge along with his father-in-law and other family friends, and played on their dart team and bowling league.  Weekend road-trips in the motorhome with their camping buddies were frequent (Sam’s CB handle was Li’l Fox in his RV and when he used his CDL in school-bus runs) and there were many camping trips down south, out west, and to Branson, MO.  Sam and Margie loved country music, especially going out to shows with live musicians.  In their retirement Sam and Margie traveled even more, going on group tours to Russia, Australia, Africa, Germany and a cruise to Alaska – all making new life-long friends along the way. They also loved to dance, and found a strong group of friends among their fellow country western dancers; even when they stopped actual dancing, they still were going out to the dances, to the group’s lunches, to the breakfasts, to the shows – as always, Margie and Sam were always going out somewhere.

     Sam was active in his church – Zion Spies, in Alsace Township - serving on its consistory for many years. When he was not working, camping, or out with Margie on some adventure, Sam was hard at work keeping up the home they shared.  Sam is well-known for always being busy with the yardwork, mowing, pruning, cutting firewood and gardening on their property; Margie gave up on Sam helping her to pull weeds because he couldn’t tell weeds from flowers – so maybe Sam was the clever one there!  He was a wonderful friend, uncle, father and husband. And he will be missed dearly by all of the many people who had him in their lives.

     A celebration of Sam’s life will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM in Zion’s (Spies) Evangelical Reformed Church, 318 Spies Church Road, Reading, PA 19606. Pastor Vaughn Starr and Rev. Merrill Marisseau will officiate. Interment in the church cemetery will be private. Family and friends will be received immediately following his celebration. Please honor Sam by contributing to his church at the above address. The Klee Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Shillington, is assisting the Petsch family. www.kleefuneralhome.com

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